These foods are traditionally eaten for Persian New Year
Food carries meaning. And when it comes to the new year, many cultures have specific foods they believe will bring luck, prosperity or have some other symbolic significance for the coming year.
In China, people eat dumplings on the eve of Lunar New Year for wealth. In Spain, people eat 12 grapes at midnight on New Year’s Eve for good luck. And in Iran, a Haft Seen table display of seven elements symbolizes the upcoming year. For example, sprouts represent rebirth, and vinegar symbolizes time and patience.
In celebration of Persian New Year, or Nowruz, on Friday, assistant lifestyle editor Karla Kane spoke to various Peninsula food businesses about what is traditionally eaten for the new year and what it represents.
Meanwhile, I focused on the latest food robot to come to the Peninsula: a beverage bot serving boba tea.
Stay tasty,
Adrienne
A taste of spring: Persian New Year food traditions celebrate fresh greens, community and new beginnings
Nowruz, the spring holiday also known as Persian New Year, translates to “new day,” and falls on the Northern Hemisphere’s vernal equinox, around March 20.
A 24/7 boba bot, new handmade dumpling spot and free coconut pudding
- Yo-Kai Express, the Hayward company behind Bay Area ramen vending machines, has publicly launched its beverage bot in Millbrae.
- Super Bao recently opened in Mountain View, serving handmade bao and Chinese cuisine.
- Downtown Mountain View’s HalalStreet Xinjiang Cuisine & BBQ recently relocated to Cupertino, rebranding as Mifen Yo.
- San Mateo’s Guadalajara Grill recently expanded to Belmont.
- Valley Goat in Sunnyvale is celebrating its one-year anniversary with a patio party on Sunday from 4-6 p.m. This ticketed event includes curated bites, two drinks, live action stations and a DJ.
- House of Kebab recently opened in Burlingame in the former Full House space.
- Jagalchi is celebrating its one-year anniversary with an Anniversary Festival March 19-April 1. The festival includes exclusive coupons, special offers across departments, free gifts, new arrivals and limited-edition items.
- Ketch Harbor Pub in Half Moon Bay is “shutting down this week” after receiving an eviction notice, according to a recent Instagram post.
- Oh Baby Sushi, which has locations in Redwood City, Daly City and Sunnyvale, soft opened March 11 in Cupertino.
- Fugetsu Market, a Japanese market in San Jose, soft opened Sunday in Santa Clara.
- The family behind Must Be Dumpling in Pacifica is soon opening a sushi restaurant, Rockaway Japanese Cuisine.
- Tong Sui is hosting its grand opening at The Pruneyard in Campbell Saturday and Sunday, with the first 200 customers receiving a free coconut pudding and special merchandise.
- Whole Foods Market is opening in Los Gatos April 15. The first 300 shoppers will receive a Whole Foods Market limited-edition tote bag and a Secret Saver card.
Burrito de mole at ViVe Sol
It’s easy to miss ViVe Sol while driving along El Camino Real. From the outside, it doesn’t look like much, but the interior is charming and cozy. The ceiling is scattered with large star-shaped lamps, and the walls are a warm rustic orange.
The menu is large and moderately priced, with a wide variety of dishes from Puebla, Mexico, including burritos, enchiladas and house specials, such as a traditional creamy chicken casserole (rajas poblanas) and enjococado chicken with Guajillo sauce (pollo Guajillo).
If you’ve eaten at Palo Alto Sol, Quinto Sol, La Fiesta or Blue Agave Club, the menu will likely look familiar. ViVe Sol, Palo Alto Sol and Quinto Sol were created by husband and wife Hector and Helena Sol. Helena Sol’s parents are Arturo and Rosalina Garcia, the founders of La Fiesta and Blue Agave Club in Mountain View, and Helena Sol’s daughter, Paulina Sol, is the owner of Sun of Wolf in Palo Alto.
On a recent visit to ViVe Sol, I ordered the burrito de mole with carnitas ($24). The burrito itself is absolutely delicious (the carnitas is tender and succulent without any off-putting gelatinous fatty bits), but made even more phenomenal when drenched with housemade mole. Made with dried chiles, spices, nuts, seeds, herbs and cocoa beans, ViVe Sol’s mole is a bit on the sweeter side, but not in a cloying way as it’s also richly spiced, savory and earthy.
ViVe Sol, 2020 W. El Camino Real, Mountain View; 650-938-2020. Open Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 5-8:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 5-9 p.m.
Frankie, Johnnie and Luigi Too! is back – just under a different name
The family-owned Mountain View Italian restaurant is now called Giorgio’s Italian Grill & Pizzeria
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